Despite valiantly fighting off the “evil” ratings juggernaut known as American Idol, it looks like Sam and friends have lost the battle. Reaper has been cancelled by the CW network.
Revolving around a young slacker whose parents have sold his soul to the devil, Reaper showcases the talents of actors like Bret Harrison, Tyler Labine, Rick Gonzalez, Missy Peregrym, Ray Wise, Andrew Airlie, Valerie Rae Miller, Donavon Stinson, Christine Willes, Allison Hossack, Ken Marino, and Jessica Stroup.
Once expected to be a breakout hit of the 2007-08 season, the series averaged just 2.7 million viewers and a 1.2/3 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. It was renewed for a second year but the network delayed it until mid-season and then scheduled it opposite American Idol.
Initially, the show did pretty well but then the numbers began to erode. As a result, the CW network has terminated the series after two short seasons.
There is a slim chance that Reaper could continue in first-run syndication. ABC Studios, who produces the series, is currently gauging interest. If they are able to keep the show going, it may have to be without Labine’s Sock since the actor’s signed onto a new FOX sitcom, Sons of Tucson. It’s unclear if Labine’s Reaper contract would still mandate his returning to the show if it moved to syndication.
As it stands now, next week’s episode, titled “The Devil and Sam Oliver,” will be the show’s last. In a recent interview with Steve Eramo, Labine said that the possibility that this would be the last installment was very much on everyone’s mind.
He said, “There’s always a certain amount of emotion that comes with what could be the end of something that you’ve put so much work into and where you enjoy the people you work with as much as we do… So it got a little emotional around the set during the final days of filming this story.”
Of the episode, the actor said, “I don’t want to give away any details of the finale, but I can say that it won’t leave you frustrated if we don’t come back. It should leave you feeling like you could go off and imagine what the rest of Sam’s life would be like. I thought that was really clever because when they wrote this episode, the writers weren’t sure if they were writing the end of the show or the end of the season. So I thought it was a good move on their part.”
Should Sam, Sock, Ben, and friends return for more adventures or will you be happy to let it go?
Image courtesy CW.
CW what you guy’ are thinking this is a great show .
@Hector: Go here http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/reaper-tv-show-still-alive/
I really enjoy Reaper. It’s a great show with endearing characters and a great mix of the supernatural and comedy. It was, I mean is – I hope, a funny show and clever.
Does anyone know to whom I should to about saving Reaper?
I am very sad to here that “Reaper” is no more, it was a great show. I wish another network would pick it up.
It’s sad to see something creative and out-of-the-box get booted for the likes of some of the other garbage on tv. I think they were a victim of Idol-death. I really hope they bring it back.
I do hope that this show can get picked up by another network and given the promotion it deserves. Reaper has succeeded in filling a gaping hole left by Buffy and Angel and it gives me the same warm fuzzies that those two shows did and nothing else has been able to provide.
Please bring this show back. Why are we saving reality crap & canceling all of the sitcoms? Is misery & others’ misfortune really better than laughter? This show is very well written & will be missed.
Reaper is a good series, so is My Name Is Earl and yet these two get canned and shows like 90210 live on?
Reaper was a good idea with a good cast and didn’t get the appreciation it deserved. It was do much better than the other mindless crap that stations stream out every year. I say bring back reaper and my name is earl and death to 90210!!
I think it would SUCK big time if teh series ended now i really like it, i say GIVE US more Seasons its a damn good Series and i want it to Continue no doubt about that!
Why?? I am so sick of my shows being cancelled. They cancel Reaper, but continue on with a remake of 90210 and now Melrose Place. I really love this show and I am devestated that they cancelld it. Please someone keep this show going! I wouldn’t mind if Sock could only pop up for a few episodes. Just don’t let this show die!! I am to the point where I don’t even care about the new seasons, because it seems every show I like gets cancelled, but every show I can’t stand seems to stick around. I would follow Reaper… Read more »
There are so few great shows on TV please don’t let this one disappear so early in the game!
OMG. you guy are freaking idiots!!! i love the show. this show is actually one of the better shows thats not over done with graphics or some off wall scenario that only a movie studio would think of. the fact that sam can only use these “special abilities” of his at the most random time is what makes it interesting. how many times does the main character get something special and just abuse it and it become no longer interesting and is out by next season with something the exact way. MAKE THE GUY ACHIEVE SOMETHING GREAT AND BECOME LAZY… Read more »
what is wrong with tv execs.Angel-was only show that gained viewers and was cancelled that same season.shortly thereafter exec. resigned. Reaper pitted against american idol-gain viewers from last yr.-cancelled. A.I. is a juggernaut-no series has been able to compete-yet reaper-gained viewers-so another exec. decides to resign in a couple of mths? cw wants to appeal to audiences,then pay attention-shows seldom become major hits in 2 seasons.patience and loyalty-with quality writing and acting brings veiwership-reaper has all of these and then some.hope abc syndicates it and makes a bundle and cw gets none of profits.where do people find these execs.? obviously… Read more »
As a Fifty year-old this is the only show I watch on a consistent basis. You want to be a part of their world, growing up having friends like that being slackers. It’s nice to come home to and escape with Sam, Sock, Andi and Ben. (Ben’s great!) It would be great if ABC studios does renew the best show on the WB. I hope so. if not, I’ll go back to my boring job and come home with no escapism. Go Reaper!
well i guess less tv more movies now. i only watch supernatural, rescue me, californication, entourage, two and a half men and reaper.
it seems most shows the wife and i like don’t last like others.
Dead like me
john from cincinati
arrested development
firefly
jericho
what happened to the days when a series could play out to the bitter end.